By Ed Dove.
Soon after taking the job of Ghana national team head coach,Avram Grantà admitted that he was considering invitingà SulleyMuntarià and Kevin-Prince Boateng back to the national side.
As reported on theà Official Ghana FA website, the ex-Chelseaboss had the following to say about player selections for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations:
"Itââ¬â¢s open for every player that is willing to give everything for his country and to understand that with all the developments in football, money etc the main competition is with the national teams. Any player that will be proud to wear the national jersey and give all his passion to the team and have the quality of course, the doors of the Black Stars will be open to him.ââ¬
ââ¬ÅFrom my point of view, when we say a new beginning we mean a new beginning. We donââ¬â¢t have to look at the past we have to learn from the past. My target is to have a new beginning for everybody who is ready to come and play for the Ghana national team. So this is my target and am speaking with the FA about it and it will be to learn from the past not to look at it."
certainly suspected that an injury toà Kwadwoà Asamoah, who has been ruled out of theà Afconà [via BBC Sport] would tempt Grant to turn back to the two experienced, talented campaigners. Similarly, Ghana have been drawn into the tournamentââ¬â¢s Group of Deathâ⬔alongside Algeria, South Africa and Senegalâ⬔and the Israeli boss is naturally keen to draw on all possible expertise.
Ultimately, Grant resisted the temptation to name eitherà Muntarià or Boateng and decided to turn to new faces such as Enochà Kofià Aduà of FFMalmoà when naming his provisionalà Afconà squad [viaà CitiFMà Online].
Is the coach right to have ignored the formerà Portsmouthà midfielder, now 30, based on his performances forà AC Milanà so far this term?
Whileà Muntarià brings undisputed baggage, has he not done enough over the last six months to prove to the Black Starsââ¬â¢ management that he can still make a valuable contribution to their effort in Equatorial Guinea?
Itââ¬â¢s been a mixed first half to the season for Milan.
Theà Rossonerià have lost only three matches and sit in seventh place, better, at least, than last termââ¬â¢s dismal eighth-place finish.
However, they are still far from the dominant force that their fans have come to expect and have, too often, struggled to finish off games and actually beat teams.
There has also been too much inconsistency. Filippoà Inzaghiââ¬â¢s side have strung two wins together only once since the first two matches of the campaign.
Muntari, similarly, has struggled for consistency.
On the opening day of the season he was outstanding, scoring a goal as Milan beatà Lazioà 3-1. Since then, however, his capacities have only been seen in fits and starts.
There was the excellent display againstà Chievoà (again marked with a goal), and the dominant performance in Milanââ¬â¢s 3-1 away victory overà Verona, but latterly, he has struggled to impact games and has fallen down in the clubââ¬â¢s midfield pecking order.
Admittedly, his momentum was killed in November, when he was both suspended (after picking up four yellow cards) and was also ruled out with a groin injury [via Gary Al-Smith ofà SuperSport]. He only played 76 minutes of first-team football last month, andà hasnââ¬â¢t started a game since.
To his credit, though,à Muntarià has shown his quality in patches.
I have mentioned the goals above, but it is also worth noting that the Red and Blacks have only lost one game (against championsà Juventus) whenMuntarià has featured.
Statistically, there is little that is outstanding, but the ex-Sunderlandà man is a good all-rounder and contributes both defensively (averaging 1.7 tackles and interceptions per gameaccording toà WhoScored) and offensively (again,à WhoScorednoteà a pass-success rate of 79.9 percent).
He is also versatile, and he has started matches on the left side of midfield, as a defensive midfielder or in the centre of the park.
Finally,à Muntarià has, once again, demonstrated the kind of penchant for controversy that has caused problems for Ghana in the past.
A hard tackle on teammate Marco vanà Ginkelà in training has left the on-loan Chelsea man facing 45 days on the sidelines, according toà James Cannon ofà Squawka.
Cannon writes: ââ¬ÅThe Italian press claimed thatà Inzaghià was furious withMuntari, and considered fining the former Portsmouth and Inter midfielder for the tackle.â⬠The coach later denied these reports [alsoà viaà Squawka].
This incident has once again reminded Milan fans and Ghana supporters that whileà Muntarià brings undisputed dynamism and versatility, his dark side can re-emerge at any moment.
Ultimately, Grant deemed him unworthy of the risk.
Source: www. bleacherreport.com